The Fox sat at his desk, feet propped up, cigarette burning in the ashtray next to his coffee mug that had more whiskey than coffee at this point. Twenty years doing this job, and the cases all started to blur together. Different names, same story.

  His boss walked in without knocking - never did - and took in the scene: feet on desk, smoke curling up to the water-stained ceiling tiles, the bottle of Jack barely hidden in the bottom drawer.

  "Fox."

  "Boss." He didn't move his feet.

  The boss dropped a mani folder on his desk. "New case. Child support enforcement."

  The Fox picked it up with two fingers, flipped it open. His eyes scanned the name. "Gingerbread Man? As in, the Gingersnap family?"

  "The one and only. Eugene Gingersnap Jr., goes by Genji."

  The Fox let out a low whistle. "Money family. This ought to be fun." He flipped another page. "Let me guess - he knocked somebody up and ran?"

  "Something like that. Woman's asking for paternity test and support."

  The Fox saw the name and actually ughed - a short, bitter bark. "She lives in Shoe apartments? Shelley Oldwoman?" He looked up at his boss. "You're kidding me."

  "You know her?"

  "Know *of* her. Everyone does. She's got a reputation." He scanned the file. "Says here she's got... twelve kids already?"

  "Thirteen now, apparently. This would be number thirteen."

  The Fox took a drag of his cigarette, thinking. "She's never filed for support before. Not once. I've seen her name in the system but she's never gone after any of the daddies." He looked at his boss. "So why now? Why him?"

  His boss shrugged. "Does it matter? She's entitled to support if it's his kid."

  "Sure, sure." The Fox tapped ash into the tray. "But the Gingerbread Man's got money. Real money. And suddenly *this* is the baby daddy she decides to chase down?" He shook his head. "What do you think?"

  His boss gave him a look - the one that said *I think you ask too many questions and need to just do your damn job.*

  "I think you need to serve him papers and get him tested. That's what I think."

  The Fox nodded slowly, closing the file. "Yeah. That's what I figured you'd say."---

  Genji found his mother in her dressing room, seated at the vanity that probably cost more than most people's cars. The room was all cream and gold - plush carpet, silk curtains, lighting designed specifically to make her look ten years younger. Everything in the Gingersnap estate was like that: expensive, tasteful, insuted from anything resembling real life.

  She was applying lipstick with the precision of a surgeon, studying her reflection like it held the secrets of the universe.

  "There you are, darling," she said without looking at him. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming by today."

  "Just needed to clear my head." He leaned against the doorframe. Shelley's voice kept pying in his head - *I think it's yours* - but he pushed it away. Twelve kids. *Twelve.* No way that was his problem.

  "Well, since you're here - are you attending the Locks' party Saturday?" She moved on to her earrings, rge diamonds that caught the light. "It's going to be quite the affair. Everyone will be there."

  "I wasn't pnning on it."

  Her eyes flicked to him in the mirror. "Eugene, you really should make an appearance. It's important to maintain connections with families like the Locks. Good breeding, old money." She paused, her voice taking on that particur tone that meant a lecture was coming. "Especially given some of the... rumors I've been hearing about the company you've been keeping tely."

  There it was. Genji straightened slightly. "What rumors?"

  "Oh, you know how people talk." She waved a manicured hand dismissively. "Something about you spending time in... less desirable areas. With women who aren't exactly..." She searched for the right word. "Appropriate."

  *Twelve kids living with their mother in shoe.* Yeah, his mother would have a stroke if she knew.

  "They're fine . Women, Mom."

  "I'm sure they're perfectly nice in their own way, darling. But you're a Gingersnap. You need to think about your future, your reputation. Women of your pedigree." She turned from the mirror to look at him directly. "Which is why you should attend Saturday. Goldilocks will be there, and she's grown into such a refined young woman. Her family would be an excellent connection."

  Genji almost ughed. "Goldie? You mean Goldilocks Locks?"

  "Yes, dear. You've known each other since you were children."

  "Yeah, I know her." He crossed his arms. "She's a rich, snooty little bitch."

  "*Eugene!*" His mother's hand went to her chest in practiced shock. "Language!"

  "Sorry, Mom." He wasn't sorry. The image of Goldilocks and her gang of entitled brats breaking into houses for kicks made his skin crawl. At least when he messed around, nobody got hurt. Those girls were just pying at being dangerous because they were bored.

  His mother sighed and turned back to her mirror, the moment already forgotten. "Well, regardless of your opinion, you should still attend. Your father and I will be there, and it would be nice to have you with us. Show your face, have a drink, remind people that the Gingersnaps are still a name that matters."

  "I'll think about it," he lied.

  She smiled at her reflection, satisfied. "That's all I ask, darling."

  Genji pushed off the doorframe and headed out. She'd already moved on to her neckce, lost in the bubble she and his father had built around themselves. Expensive Parties. Money fixes everything. Nothing really matters as long as appearances are maintained.

  He thought about Shelley again - *I think it's yours* - and shook his head. Not his kid. Couldn't be. He'd deal with it if it became a real problem.

  Right now, he just needed to keep moving.